Acting like a black ops agent, I slipped into the V408, a new cruiser from Four Winns. I couldn’t find any printed information on her, but I could sneak onboard and enjoy some of the features. Two features stood out at the stern, the grill cooking station and the glass bottom fender locker in the sole of the swim platform. In the cockpit, you have a ton of room and a retractable roof that makes getting up front to enjoy the loungers easy and you don’t have to yell “duck” as someone goes up the steps. Inside has a very European look with sliding opaque door to the aft/master cabin. The washer/dryer is in the aft head out of the way. In the galley, upper cabinets have opaque doors and there is also a stowable worktable. I just can’t wait to “officially” see it and test it for you!

Four Winns V408 (2009-) Specifications

Length Overall	43' 6'' 13.3 m	Dry Weight	28,000 lbs. 12,700 KG
Beam	13' 4'' 4.07 m	Fuel Cap	300 gal. 1,130 L
Draft	44'' 112 cm	Water Cap	85 gal. 321 L
Deadrise/Transom	19 deg.	Bridge Clearance	12' 8'' 3.86 m
Max Headroom	7' 1'' 2.16 m
Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.

Four Winns V408 (2009-) Engine options

Std. Power	Not Available
Tested Power	Currently no test numbers
Opt. Power	2 x 370-hp Volvo Penta IPS 500 2 x 400-hp Volvo Penta IPSG 550 2 x 435-hp Volvo Penta IPS 600

Four Winns V408 (2009-)

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Four Winns V408 Express Cruiser

By Capt. Rob Smith

While lurking about at the 2009 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, I stumbled across a new express cruiser from Four Winns. This one is the V408. So with a nosy personality and a crew of two equally interested cohorts, I helped myself while the Four Winns staff wasn’t looking.

The stern had a few features that stood out to me. First of all, the summer cooking station or cockpit grill was on the stern over the swim platform. That really makes a ton of sense, especially if you have the camper canvas up and are running the cockpit air conditioning. All the smoke from the succulent morsels on the grill stays outside while your crew relaxes in cooled, smoke-free comfort inside. This model had a hydraulic swim platform with teak insert. While the hydraulic option is a great upgrade, the fender well was the real surprise. Open up the fender well in the platform and pull out the two large (and appropriately sized for this boat) fenders to reveal a glass bottom! I can imagine the thrills your visitors, especially the younger ones, will get when you flip on the underwater lights and open up this hatch for the view of the water world beneath!

Side decks also had teak inserts. Several comfortable steps up from either the port or starboard side and you can access the bow without having to pop a single snap on the camper canvas. An aft facing bench provides a space for you to relax with a glass of wine at anchor or for someone to keep an eagle eye on the kids in the water. Slipping inside the camper canvas revealed a couple more pleasant surprises. The upholstery was Four Winns typical high grade upholstery in complementing colors, but it also was asymmetrical rather than straight, square lines that can be boring. Twin drawer style refrigerators were mounted in the port wall that took advantage of the space under the side decks and didn’t waste storage in cockpit cabinets.

The helm was also very sweet. The double wide split seat had individual electric adjustments, including backrest which my aching back really loved! This one also was equipped with Volvo Penta’s IPS joystick drive system. Large steps led up the center of the dash to the windshield hatch and out to the bow. Now that’s not anything to crow about, but the fact that the electric retractable hard top brings a ton of light and air into the cockpit and opens the top of the walkthrough so you don’t have to bend over to pass through is!

Port lights in the cabin top were different from any I have seen lately. They were more decorative and allowed more light without looking like oversized glass manholes. The hatch over the forward stateroom was very decorative, but I would prefer to use that extra width to have an escape hatch that is more like 22” rather than the 17” or so that it was. Still very elegant, but maybe bigger would be better.

Inside, I felt like I was back in my friend’s flat in Paris. The V408 has very European looking interior design elements. The galley has a work table that swings out to almost any angle so the chef can face their guests or watch TV while preparing a meal. This table can also be removed and stowed to open the dance floor size salon for a party of guests. The upper cabinets have frosted glass doors adding more elegant touches. The wine safe and stemware cabinet has a glass door to showcase your collection.

Continuing the sneak peak, the forward cabin has a dual entry head so that it can serve as both the day head and the private head for the cabin. Looking aft, the bulkhead to the aft cabin was a sliding frosted glass door that sealed the deal for its Parisian feel to me. The last surprise I found before I darted off the boat before being busted was in the head. I have seen the washer/dryer in lockers on cruisers, but Four Winns used up space inside the port walls of the head as to not burn valuable hanging locker space. Very smart!

My sources tell me the specifications for the V408 Express Cruiser are a length on average with swim platform of 43’6” and beam of 13’4”. Her weight comes to about 28,000 lbs. with engines and she is yacht certified. Her fuel capacity is 300 gallons and water capacity is 85 gallons. Her bridge clearance is 12’8” and draft is approximately 44”.

The V408 Express Cruiser had a lot of nice features and a few thoughtful solutions to issues on a cruising model for me. I could easily see myself spending a week or two onboard in comfort. I love to grill, entertain and party and certainly enjoy the relaxing motion of the ocean beneath my berth. I hope to be back onboard soon for an official look-see and test to bring you performance results and a complete review of the standard and optional features aboard.

Four Winns V408 (2009-) Standard and Optional Equipment

Marine Electronics
Fishfinder
GPS/Chart
Radar
VHF Radio
Systems
Air Cond./Heat
Battery Charger/Converter
CD Stereo
Head: Fixed
Shore Power
Trim Tabs
Washdown: Raw Water
Water Heater
Windlass
Galley
Coffeemaker
Icemaker
Microwave
Refrigerator
Stove
Exterior Features
Hardtop
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Transom Door
Transom Shower
Wet bar
Canvas
Camper Back
Boats More Than 30 Feet
Generator
Oil Change System
Vacuum
Washer/Dryer

= Standard = Optional

Four Winns V408 (2009-) Warranty Information

Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to insure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.
Hull Warranty
Years	Lifetime Limited
Deck Warranty
Years	Lifetime Limited
Gelcoat Warranty
Years	One year
Blistering Warranty
Years	Five year
Certifications
NMMA Certification	Yes

Four Winns V408 (2009-) Price

Base Price (MSRP)	$587,000.00
Price as Tested	N/A
Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.